Straightening and solidifying machine



G. P. WILSON STRAIGHTENING AND SOLIDIFYING MACHINE July 28, 19 5.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 15, 1923 Patented July 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,541,250 PATENT? OFFICE.

GUY P. WILSON, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

STRAIGHTENING AND SO'IQIDIFYING" MACHINE,

Application filed August 13, 1923. Serial No. 657,252.

To all whom it may-concern:

Be it known that I, GUY P. WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residin ,at Kal ania-z-oo, county of Kalamazoo, state of quently have high and low spots and it is the common practice to eliminate these high and low spots by hammering. This requires great'skill and judgment and the frequent use: of calipers so that this operation in the makingof plates is expensive, The main objects of the invention are; I First, to provide a. straightening machine which is'well adapted for the straightening and solidifying of printing plates, such'as electroplates and the like which fre uently become distorted in steps of manu acture orthe printing face has high spots and low spots. Second,-to provide an improved straightening machineadapted for the purpose indicated which is effective in the straightening and solidifying of the plates so that. the printing surfaces are all in one plane or properly presented which does not distort or draw the plates so as to align or distort the figure or type on theplate. I

Third, to-provid'e astraightening machine adapted for the; usesv indicated which requires very little 'skill to successfully operate. j j p Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will, definitely appear from the detailed; description to follow.

I accomplish the objectsfof my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims. Q

A structure which is a preferredembodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

' Fig. I is aside elevation of a straighteningnma'chineembodying the features of' my invention, a portion of the pedestal and a portion ofthe carriage ways being broken away.

Fig. II is a detail vertical section on a line corresponding to line 2'2 of Fig. I.

Fig, III is an end elevation of a modified form of my invention.

Fig. IV is a detail vertical section on a line corresponding to line 44 of Fig. III, a printing plate being shown passing through themachine.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several vlews and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the littlearrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, the main frame of the machine comprises a pedestal ,1 with a suitable bed 2 extended at each side of the pedestal into ways 3. 'A plate-like carriage M 4 is slidably mounted upon the ways 3 the ways being of such length that the carriage is slidably supported throughout, the. carriage resting flat upon the ways, as illus trated, thus obviating'any springing of the carriage. The carriage has a rack 5 on its under side disposed centrally and longitudinally thereof. g

Extending transversely of the bed 2. is a carriage driving shaft 6 having a pinion? thereon meshing with the rackso that the carriage is positively driven. "The shaft 6 is provided with a Worm gear 8 meshin with the worm 9 on the shaft 10. The sha 10 has a second worm 11 meshing with the pinion 12 on the driving shaft 13 of the motor, shown conventionally at 14. The pressure roller 15 is provided with journals 16 at 'its'ends carried by the bearing blocks 17 supported m the'guides 18. for vertical movementtherein. 'Tension springs 19 are supported by thrust blocks 20 which are adjusted bymeans of the screws 21 having beveled pinions 22 on their upper ends.

' 'An adjusting shaft 23 extends across the machine, it being supported by the brackets QA'and provided with pinions 25 meshing with the'pinions 22.

A. handwheel 26 is provided so that both screws maybe simultaneously adjusted,thus

getting a uniform pressure on the roller.

formsthe plate so that its printing surface "0 is in' the same plane.

To prevent distortion the speed of the carriage is the same as the peripheral speedof the roller, the shaft 6 being provided with a gear 28 meshing with the gear 29 on the roller 15. The surface of the roller is serrated or knurled, the serrations being formed by cross grooves disposed diagonally; that is, the grooves are cut at an angle to longitudinal and transverse planes of the roller. This is found effective to prevent the flowing action of the printing plates which would result in distortion .as the plate is passed through the machine.

In the modification shown in Figs. III and IV the rack 5 is omitted from the carriage 30 which otherwise is the same as the carriage 4:, the carriage being fed and supported by the roller 31 disposed directly below the pressure roller 32. The pressure roller is provided with tension springs the same as described.

The serrations of the surface of the pressure roller 32 differ slightly from those of the roller 15 in that the serrations 33 extend in both directions from a central point 34L and there are no crossing serrations.

This form is also effective in preventing distortion of the plate. I

In the embodiment shown in Figs. III and IV a train of gears, designated generally by the numeral 35, is substituted for the worm and shaft driving connections illustrated in Fig. I. V

My improved straightening machine is very eflicient and effective for straightening and solidifying printing plates bringing the printing face into a proper plane and, as stated, the machine may be successfully operated by persons not specially skilled.

I have illustrated and described my iniprovements in embodiments which I have found very practical. I have not illustrated or described certain embodiments or adaptations which I contemplate as I believe the disclosure'made will enable those skilled in the art to which this invention relates to embody or adapt the same as may be desired.

, Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: V

1. Ina machine of the class described, the combination of a frame provided with ways, a flat plate-like carriage supported directly by and sliding on said ways, said ways being of such length that the carriage is supported throughout its length, a rack on the under side of said carriage, a feed shaft disposed on said frame transversely below said carriage and provided with a pinion meshing with said rack on said carriage,'a pres sure roller having journals at its ends, coacting gears on said feed shaft and pressure roller, bearing blocks for said journals, said frame having vertical guides for said hearing blocks, pressure springs for said bearing blocks, thrust blocks for said springs, adjusting screws for said springs arranged in said guides, adjusting screws for said thrust blocks provided with beveled gears at their upper ends, and an adjusting sha t mounted on said frame and having gears coacting with said gears on said thrust blocks whereby the adjusting screws may be simultaneously adjusted.

2. In a machineof the class described, the combination of a frame provided with ways, a flat plate-like carriage supported directly by and sliding on said ways, said ways being of such length that the carriage is supported throughout its length, a rack on the under side of said carriage, a feed shaft disposed on said frame transversely below said carriage and provided with a pinion meshing with said rack on said carriage, a pressure roller having journals at its ends, coacting gears on said feed shaft and pressure roller, bearing blocks for said journals, said frame having vertical guides for said bearing blocks, and pressure means for said pressure roller.

. 3. In a machine ofthe class described, the combination of a frame provided with ways, a fiat plate-like carriage supported directly by and sliding on said ways, said ways being of such length that the carriage is supported throughout its length, a rack on the under side of said carriage, a feed shaft disposed on said frame transversely below said carriage and provided with a pinion meshing with said rack on said carriage, a pressure roller having a uniformly serrated surface, the serrations being formed by crossing diagonally disposed grooves, said roller having journals at its ends, coacting gears on said feed shaft and pressure roller, bearing blocks for said journals, said frame having vertical guides for said bearing blocks, and pressure means for said pressure roller.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame provided with ways, a carriage mounted on said ways, a rack on the under side of said carriage, a feed shaft disposed on said frame transversely below said carriage and provided with a pinion meshing with said rack on said carriage, a pressure roller having a uniformly serrated surface, the serrations being formed by cliagonally disposed grooves, coacting gears on said-feed shaft and pressure roller, bearing blocks for said roller, said frame having vertical guides for said bearing blocks, pressure springs for said bearing blocks, and means for regulating the tension of said springs.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame provided with ways, a carriage mounted on said ways, a rack on the under side of said carriage, a feed shaft disposed on said frame transversely below said carriage and provided with a pinion meshing with said rack on said carriage, a pressure roller, coacting gears onsaid feed shaft and pressure roller, bearing blocks for said roller, said frame having vertical guides for said bearing blocks, pressure springs for said bearing blocks, and means for regulating the tension of said springs.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame provided with ways, a plate-like carriage supported directly by and sliding on said ways, said ways being of such length that the carriage is supported throughout its length, a pressure roller having a uniformly serrated surface, the serrations being formed by diagonally disposed grooves, driving means for said carriage, a pressure roller, bearing blocks for said roller, said frame having vertical guides for said bearing blocks, pressure springs for said bearing blocks, and means for adjusting the tension of said springs.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

, -GUY P. WILSON. [1 s.] 

